Semicolon in Morse code
Written “;”, not in the ITU standard
The semicolon (;) is usually sent in Morse code as -.-.-., said dah-di-dah-di-dah-dit, the letters K and R run together. It is not in the international standard, so not every operator will know it, but charts, amateur lists and translators all use this code. It is the period played backward.
-.-.-. (dash dot dash dot dash dot)
“dah-di-dah-di-dah-dit”dash dot dash dot dash dot
6 elements · 3 dots, 3 dashes · 17 units
Hear it at your speed (WPM)
1133 ms at 18 WPM
The semicolon at a glance
- Morse code
- -.-.-.
- Said as
- dah-di-dah-di-dah-dit
- Elements
- 6
- Length
- 17 units
- At 18 WPM
- 1133 ms
- ITU standard
- No
- Sounds like
- KRLetters run together
Outside the ITU standard
ITU-R M.1677-1 has no semicolon. Wikipedia lists -.-.-. among nonstandard punctuation, and K3WWP's amateur list gives the same code while noting that some sources give a shorter form.
That shorter form, -.-.-, clashes with the standard: the ITU list already uses it as the starting signal, sent before every transmission. The full six elements avoid the clash.
Hear it
- KA-.-.-
The period backward
Read the period, .-.-.-, from the end and you get the semicolon: dashes and dots alternating, starting on a dash instead of a dot. It takes 17 units, about 1.13 seconds at 18 WPM.
- The common exclamation mark,
-.-.--, differs only in the last element. - The letter C,
-.-., is the first four elements on their own. - With a normal letter gap,
-.- .-.is two letters, K and R.
Hear it
- ..-.-.-
- !-.-.--
- C-.-.
What to send instead
Because a receiver may not know the sign, the safe choice is a period or a comma, both in the ITU list. YES; NO, the phrase in this page's practice box, is -.-- . ... -.-.-. / -. ---, 71 units; with a comma in its place it is 73.
Hear it
- YES; NO-.-- . ... -.-.-. / -. ---
Characters to compare
Close to the semicolon in sound, so the likeliest mix-ups.
- Semicolon in reverse: Period, dot dash dot dash dot dash
- Semicolon with its 6th dot as a dash: Exclamation mark, dash dot dash dot dash dash
- Its first four elements: C, dash dot dash dot
Which one did you hear?
Listen, then pick or type the one you heard.
Try the semicolon in a word
Tap the semicolon yourself
Press for a dot, hold for a dash. Space works too.
- Send
- -.-.-.
- Yours
- Nothing yet
Questions about Semicolon.
Did American Morse have a semicolon?
Yes. Wikipedia's table of American (Railroad) Morse gives it a code of its own, written SI, which has nothing in common with the International semicolon.
Is there a Morse code for punctuation?
Yes. The ITU standard covers the common marks, from the period and comma to the brackets and quotation marks, and the semicolon is one of the few everyday marks it leaves out. The punctuation chart shows both groups.
Is there a Japanese Morse code?
Yes. Wabun code sends Japanese kana and reuses many International codes for different sounds. The Japanese Morse code guide covers it.